tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40901178770560905222018-01-22T07:11:44.257-05:00Adventures in the Anderl House...Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.comBlogger599125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-78916469917680503372016-05-05T13:24:00.000-04:002016-05-05T13:26:45.197-04:00Succulent GardenBonnie and I went to Maymont's <a href="https://maymont.org/experiences/annual-events/herbs-galore/">Herbs Galore &amp; More</a> this weekend with her MIL. I'm not sure what I was expecting but it was like a large farmers' market except instead of vegetables, the booths were full of plants, herbs, homemade soaps, lavender goodies, and a few crafties!<br /><br />I came home with some herbs (dill, basil, and chives), a purple heliotrope, some lavender spray to spray in the bedroom before I go to bed (helps me fall asleep - staying asleep is a problem, though), and some succulents to make a succulent garden!<br /><br />There was a booth that was selling the most beautiful succulent arrangements - they were a little pricey for something I'd probably kill in a month, so I decided to pick up 4 miniature succulents and make my own succulent garden like one I saw on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/gardenanswer">Garden Answer</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7404/26549103450_bae5ed94d6_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7404/26549103450_bae5ed94d6_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bonnie's photo</span></div><br />She had some in teacups, but that's not really my style, so I went to Target (shocker) to find a large bowl for my arrangement. I was hoping for something <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/category/bowls/home-dinner-bowls.jsp#/">Anthro</a>-ish but instead I picked up an oil-rubbed bronze guy so he can be moved between rooms as I see fit.<br /><br />Since this isn't a proper pot for plants and has no way for water to drain, I put some marbles (from Dollar Tree) in the bottom of the bowl, then added some potting soil:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7116/26835437165_f36fb4d44e_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7116/26835437165_f36fb4d44e_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Then I added my 4 succulents and tried to brush off all the dirt from them. My paint brush was wet, so I created a bit of a mud situation ;)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1487/26759344075_17a129ac4d_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1487/26759344075_17a129ac4d_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I haven't decided where it will live long-term, so for now it is in a place of honor beside the television. I also repotted my herbs and heliotrope, making a big ol' mess in the process:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1501/26733938056_7bb8089221_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1501/26733938056_7bb8089221_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Lessons learned for next year:<br /><ul><li>Get there early! Maymont's small, main parking area filled up quickly and most of the streets of the surrounding neighborhood were full by 830!</li><li>Bring a wagon! I only brought in a grocery tote, but was scared that my plants were being smooshed (they were!) whenever I added something new to the bag. I have <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Seina-Collapsible-Folding-Shopping-Outdoors/dp/B00VPJLKXQ?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00">this wagon</a> for beach trips and other events, so we're for sure taking this next year, along with some market boxes to keep everything organized.</li></ul>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-8486630034327320982016-02-16T10:52:00.000-05:002016-02-16T11:22:12.387-05:00Home Maintenance and Repair BinderI've been trying to decrease the amount of paper we save at home since most of our bills and other records can be accessed online whenever we want to see them. I don't keep any monthly bills or statements, but our filing cabinet was still full of stuff. Part of the problem is that we have both kept all our tax documents since forever. I know the experts say to keep 7 years, but I haven't pulled the trigger to shred them yet. I'll do it. But not today.<br /><br />Another source of clutter in the filing cabinet was years of manuals and receipts from large (read:expensive) purchases we've made for the house, along with repair and maintenance documents. I wanted to keep these so when we sell the house we will know how old all the appliances are, but they weren't in any order and were just taking up space. So I whipped out my label maker and made a plan!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1673/24188015094_5aed00aab1_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1673/24188015094_5aed00aab1_b.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />I bought a 3 inch 3-ring binder along with some folder tabs and clear sheet protectors.I made 2 sections - one for purchase and another for repairs/maintenance and started organizing.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1494/24789903216_846d0051c7_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1494/24789903216_846d0051c7_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />It took a couple of hours to sort through everything, match receipts to manuals, and then organize everything into categories and sort by date. I know, #nerd. Some of the categories appear in both sections, like appliances, furniture, outdoor, and electronics, but the repairs/maintenance section also has HVAC (we had a problem unit for several years so we have many, many repair slips) and pest control to store the annual/quarterly inspection slips for termites/ants.<br /><br />Now, if our dryer is acting up and I want to know the model number or warranty information, I know exactly where to go and find that info:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1573/24789902446_edd5861f61_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1573/24789902446_edd5861f61_k.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1508/24698317142_7f4e75c35e_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1508/24698317142_7f4e75c35e_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1508/24698317142_7f4e75c35e_k.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />I purged enough papers so that everything fits in this binder, which neatly fits on our bookshelf rather than taking up half a drawer in the filing cabinet! WIN.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1512/24591294199_cace7a76ec_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1512/24591294199_cace7a76ec_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">yes, that's a mace windu light saber</span></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-48840605022672603772016-02-11T10:48:00.000-05:002016-02-11T10:48:05.903-05:00Favorite Feelings!I've seen this concept going around youtube lately, so I'm shamelessly stealing it to share my favorite feelings!<br /><br />If you know me, you know I'm not good with expressing my feelings about mushy, emotional stuff, so these are more feelings that just help improve my mood or my day. We're not getting deep here. So here goes:<br /><br /><ul><li>TMI - but taking my bra off at the end of a long day (or, let's be honest, even after a brief trip to Target) is THE BEST! &nbsp;Free + comfortable = 2 thumbs up!</li><li>We live in RVA and all our friends live an hour away, so we don't get to see each other every weekend or even every other weekend. It takes planning and coordination - there is no texting 'Hey wanna meet at Applebee's?' going on. BTW - I know Applebee's is ew, but the chicken fajita rollup is amazing. Anyway, even though we don't see each other as often as I'd like, showing up to one of their houses and picking up where we left off the last time without any awkward silence feels pretty good. And, just saying, there really is 0 silence. We're all obnoxious and rarely do any of us finish a sentence uninterrupted. It's GREAT.</li><li>Speaking of silence, do you ever take 5 minutes of time to just sit - in the car between errands, in the house while you're cleaning or reading, in the shed or garden - and just be alone with your thoughts? Sure, there's white noise, but there is nobody talking, no TV blaring, no phone distracting you, and you can just sit, be calm, and recharge. Then you're ready to face the rest of the day. I do this a lot.</li><li>Coming over the ridge of the hill at MM125 on 95N and seeing the chain mecca that is the Massaponax exit. It means I'm home. I'm comfortable. I'm safe. It also means I'm probably about to see my friends or family.</li><li>Finishing a big task at work and sending it off for approval. I know there will be edits and feedback, but for now, I did my best and I am finished.</li><li>Related, having an AHA moment - when I figure something out that's been bothering me, whether it's how to handle a personal situation, how to fix or organize something that's not working, or solving a problem at work. Sigh.</li><li>Having someone who knows your subtle, snarky faces and laughs without you having to even say anything. That's a BFF.</li><li>The first real day of spring when I can open the windows and air out the house from being cooped up all winter. It makes me dream of my little garden (by little I mean like 3 veggies or less or else I'll kill them all) and all the fun activities we can do outside in the coming months!</li><li>Football weather. This one I can't explain - it's just a feeling when I walk outside and can smell the leaves and there's a chill in the air but not enough to wear a coat. Yes.</li><li>Getting off the plane at a vacation destination. It means the logistics of the day are over, the planning was successful, I have arrived, and I can finally relax and start the vacation.</li><li>This:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WNdyb2eLAo0/Vrtb3KHUDpI/AAAAAAAADA8/g7-O5vc3YPQ/s1600/10649809_10202586365605002_4206558665486287230_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WNdyb2eLAo0/Vrtb3KHUDpI/AAAAAAAADA8/g7-O5vc3YPQ/s640/10649809_10202586365605002_4206558665486287230_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></li></ul>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-81332085164187910932016-02-09T20:43:00.000-05:002016-02-10T09:58:20.376-05:00I Miss St. AugustineWhen my parents lived in northern Florida, we went to visit them for a week each year, and one of the places we always visited no matter what else was on the agenda was St. Augustine. It touts itself as America's oldest city (settled in 1565) and has charm for days!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6066/6060103756_df0a6c7e9b_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6066/6060103756_df0a6c7e9b_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Here's how my ideal day there would go:<br /><br />First stop in the morning is&nbsp;<a href="http://www.staugustinelighthouse.com/">St. Augustine Lighthouse</a>:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BO21Cfgoebk/Vrk-Q93a5rI/AAAAAAAADAs/9dS3SquU6Mo/s1600/Untitled%2Bcopy3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BO21Cfgoebk/Vrk-Q93a5rI/AAAAAAAADAs/9dS3SquU6Mo/s640/Untitled%2Bcopy3.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />Full disclosure: I'm afraid of heights a little. I'm also afraid of being at any height on stairs where I can see below me. So if you have similar fears, be like me and hang out on the lightkeeper's porch while your spouse and/or parents climb the lighthouse. There's also a nice museum in the basement (where it's always cool even on a hot Florida day) to keep you busy while they're up in the lighthouse.<br /><br />Now we're going across the inlet and parking the car in the new central parking garage (way easier than finding a little hidden parking lot within the historic district, AND when you go back to your car it won't be a thousand degrees inside! #yourewelcome). Walk over to the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/castillodesanmarcos1.html">Castillo de San Marcos</a>, built to protect the Spanish settlement from pirates and the English army. You'll find barracks with some bunks and hay mattresses on display, weapon storage, and a prison (the creepiest part of the tour - there's a segregated room that I think was used for solitary confinement but you have to crawl through a tunnel to get in there. NOPE.)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lNuzidUE3Kc/Vrk6ym_3O9I/AAAAAAAADAg/NgYWnk-ZKJA/s1600/Untitled%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lNuzidUE3Kc/Vrk6ym_3O9I/AAAAAAAADAg/NgYWnk-ZKJA/s640/Untitled%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The nice men in uniform put on a cannon demonstration every day to show off their artillery:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nloalsA8IDg/Vrk6yvIsDJI/AAAAAAAADAc/VdPDpBlTCWY/s1600/Untitled%2Bcopy%2B%252C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nloalsA8IDg/Vrk6yvIsDJI/AAAAAAAADAc/VdPDpBlTCWY/s640/Untitled%2Bcopy%2B%252C.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Once you've seen the fort, walk through the <a href="http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/staugustinegate.html">Old City Gates</a> and take a stroll down St. George St. for some window shopping on the way to lunch.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6207/6059562121_be7b85e02e_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6207/6059562121_be7b85e02e_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Stop into&nbsp;<a href="http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/The-Columbia-Experience/History">Columbia Restaurant</a>&nbsp;- it's right on St. George St. and yes it's a chain (I know, the horror), but the food is delicious and you'll feel like you stepped back in time and landed in a Cuban courtyard. I always get the Havana Club with a side of plantain chips and a cup of Cuban black bean soup. It will refresh you from your morning adventure and fuel you for the afternoon.<br /><br />After lunch we continue down St. George St. for more shopping, stopping whenever we want for ice cream or water or whatever because it's probably 105 degrees by now. You'll find some junk shops just like in any high tourist area, but you'll also find some gems like the pottery shop that sells hand painted planters and dishes, the oldest school house, and just some damn fine scenery. It's several blocks of shopping, but in my opinion the best part is the 2 blocks closest to the city gates. Look how charming!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6194/6059579479_2109ae748f_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6194/6059579479_2109ae748f_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />After all that shopping you're probably hungry again, so I'd recommend either <a href="http://www.scarlettoharas.net/">Scarlet O'Hara's</a> or the <a href="http://colonialquarter.com/dine/bull-and-crown-publick-house/">Bull &amp; Crown</a> for dinner. These have a much more casual atmosphere than lunch so have a beer or two with your dinner. You'll need to be a little loose for the next stop...<br /><br />...which is a ghost tour! They have several <a href="http://www.ghosttoursofstaugustine.net/ghost-tours---online-booking.html">ghost tour options</a> but we prefer the trolley because you can cover more ground in the same amount of time. You get on and off at some of the more haunted spots and they have actors at each site to up the creep factor. I can't find our pictures but I know we stopped at the <a href="http://augustine.com/thing-to-do/old-jail">Old City jail</a>, an apothecary, and a graveyard. There was another spot (can't remember which site it was) where we were gathered this room and a guy walked around telling a scary story and if you laughed he'd get up in your face and basically scare the crap out of you. I did not laugh. Along the way, the tour guide told stories about the city's rumored hauntings and we yelled 'BE DOOMED!' at anyone we passed who laughed or scoffed at tourists on a ghost tour. It was fun!<br /><br />So that's my perfect day in St. Augustine. There are of course more sites to see, like the <a href="http://www.fountainofyouthflorida.com/">Fountain of Youth</a>, the <a href="http://www.alligatorfarm.com/">Alligator Farm</a>, <a href="http://www.nps.gov/foma/index.htm">Fort Matanzas</a>, <a href="http://www.flagler.edu/">Flagler College</a>, <a href="http://www.sansebastianwinery.com/index.php">San Sebastian Winery</a>, but how long is this day?<br /><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dheader&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc1.staticflickr.com%2F7%2F6194%2F6059579479_2109ae748f_b.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.37.01&amp;xuid=WGGfpzQgN_D7&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3010px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dheader&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc1.staticflickr.com%2F7%2F6194%2F6059579479_2109ae748f_b.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.37.01&amp;xuid=WGGfpzQgN_D7&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3010px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-55349207723600240122015-09-28T14:27:00.003-04:002015-09-28T18:29:53.838-04:002015 Books to Read: Update!Welp, this is embarrassing. We are 75% through the year and I've read a total of 2 books! TWO.<br /><br />Can I read <a href="http://updownleftrightbastart.blogspot.com/2015/03/2015-books-to-read.html">12 more</a> in the remaining 3 months, which happen to be the busiest 3 months of the year? There are so many pumpkin- and holiday-related things happening, how will I find the free time? Haha.<br /><br />I had good intentions. I started several books and then life just happened and I haven't picked them up. We even went on a cross-country vacation that meant 6+ hours on an airplane twice plus waiting in airport lounges, and I never once picked up a book. I took several with me so I had the opportunity, but never chose to spend my time reading. It's really sad.<br /><br />Here are the ones I read so far:<br /><ul><li><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17571109-silver-screen-fiend?from_search=true&amp;search_version=service">Silver Screen Fiend</a></i>&nbsp;by Patton Oswalt: This book covers a 4 year period where Oswalt was doing stand-up gigs, writing on a tv show, and becoming addicted to seeing old movies in the theater. It's a good combo of comedy, reflection, name-dropping (you'll recognize just about every one of his peers who were also struggling comics at the time), and great anecdote about Van Gogh's <a href="http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/night-cafe.html">Night Cafe</a> that made me think about experiences in my life where nothing afterward was the same.</li><li><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24911006-missoula?from_search=true&amp;search_version=service">Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a&nbsp;College Town</a></i>&nbsp;by Jon Krakauer: This book is everything that Rolling Stone <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/a-rape-on-campus-what-went-wrong-20150405">article</a> published about UVA wanted to be, only it has truth, reliable witnesses, and facts/science on its side.</li></ul><div><br />In progress:</div><div><ul><li><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8127.Anne_of_Green_Gables?from_search=true&amp;search_version=service">Anne of Green Gables</a></i> by LM Montgomery: I've been reading a chapter a night, only on nights I feel like reading, so this may take a while. I can't believe I've never read this series and don't feel a bit too old for it. I'm quite in touch with my inner 13 year old. :) Just ask Dave how I acted when both Chris Hardwick and Joseph Gordon Levitt were on the Tonight Show the other night - my heart almost exploded! Haha.</li><li><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21412400-the-first-bad-man?from_search=true&amp;search_version=service">The First Bad Man</a></i> by Miranda July: I am going into this blind plot-wise, other than the hint that it's maybeMAYBE about a bad man, and am excited to read it. So many people recommended it I bought it. I'm approximately 3 pages in, so still have no idea what it's about.</li><li><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71111.Black_Mass">Black Mass</a></i> by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill: We saw the movie already so do I need to finish?</li><li><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24817626-go-set-a-watchman?from_search=true&amp;search_version=service">Go Set a Watchman</a></i> by Harper Lee: meh. It's good but not great. Scout Finch is just as precocious at 25 as she was at 5, but there's really no story there. The flashbacks to Jem/Scout/Dill play sessions have been my favorite part so far!</li></ul><div><br />Admitting you have a problem is the first step in fixing it, right? We'll see. My friend is in the process of reading 100+ classic books - he's reading the first 10% of each first just to jump start the project and will then go back to the beginning of the list and finish each. That lit a fire under me to finish a freaking book!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Wish me luck!</div></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-3427075370094701972015-07-21T22:06:00.000-04:002015-07-21T22:18:02.398-04:00Charlottesville road trip!We decided to take a road trip on the first day of our 3 day Fourth of July weekend. Whenever I say Dave and I are taking a road trip for just a day, you can probably assume that we are going to either Charlottesville (an hour west) or Williamsburg (an hour east) because we love them both so much! We have our favorite places but always try at least one new thing on each trip so we don't get too formulaic.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Let me know your favorite day trips from RVA - we need to branch out! :)<br /><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, this time we chose Charlottesville! We were going on Friday to beat the major holiday crowds, and it was hot but not humid, cloudy but not gloomy. Not perfect but the rain held off for most of the day and we squeezed in a bunch of stops!<br /><div><br /></div><div>Our first stop in Charlottesville is usually <a href="http://www.cartermountainorchard.com/">Carter Mountain Orchard</a>. Whether peaches or apples are in season, and sometimes when nothing is in season, it's nice to take in the views and fresh air.</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/373/19237308589_2c6c185700_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/373/19237308589_2c6c185700_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>They have a wine shop onsite where they sell Virginia wines including their <a href="http://www.princemichel.com/">own brand</a>. They also have peach bellinis in the summer, which neither of us can resist. YUM. There were a ton of apples on the trees that will be ready to pick soon - fall is coming! We looked around their gift shop and bought some peach preserves and apple cider donut. We did <i>not </i>&nbsp;buy T.O.E. (tangerine, orange, elderberry) jam. Don't care how it tastes, the name ruins it. Pun gone wrong.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3679/19713181428_bc757ea948_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3679/19713181428_bc757ea948_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Next we headed downtown to get some lunch at <a href="http://revolutionarysoup.com/">Revolutionary Soup</a>. It's been on the short list for a while but this is the first time we've made it there - so tasty! We both got the 90's club, which had avocado, chicken, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. &nbsp;The bread was soft and fresh and the chicken was juicy and so flavorful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/262/19427627941_b846b12055_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/262/19427627941_b846b12055_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The AC was out in the restaurant, plus it was lunchtime on a workday so it was packed, so we walked down the hill to the <a href="http://www.downtowncharlottesville.net/">Downtown Mall</a> to find a seat and eat our sammiches. There was a street vendor right next to us who had sooo many pretty scarves that I wanted to buy, but it was cash only. Bummer. I never have cash. What I do have is too many scarves, so it was probably a good thing she didn't take debit. ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/527/19235865048_dde3f10cd4_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/527/19235865048_dde3f10cd4_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We sat for a while people watching and just enjoying the breeze before moving on to our next stop: <a href="http://ashlawnhighland.org/">Ash Lawn-Highland</a>, James Monroe's "cabin cottage" just down the hill from <a href="http://www.monticello.org/">Monticello</a>. Before I realized this was not his main home, I was judging TJ super hard for how opulent Monticello is compared to this place. It was a simple house about the size of a basic colonial you'd see in any neighborhood in RVA, plus some outbuildings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/276/19236003528_67171a79dc_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/276/19236003528_67171a79dc_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Even the road in to the property was great! Reminded me of the road to <a href="http://boonehallplantation.com/">Boone Hall Plantation</a>, where they filmed <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088583/">North and South</a>. Love that place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/516/18802728673_35c1c6cf39_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/516/18802728673_35c1c6cf39_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Particularly proud of this shot:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/271/19237226258_b84191fca6_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/271/19237226258_b84191fca6_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">{although the green space is begging for some type of inappropriate quote, like 'when all else fails, make a dick joke' a la robin williams}</div><br /></div><div>Don't tell the lady at the front desk (I think she already knows) but we didn't actually take the house tour we paid for. I was much more interested in the grounds and outbuildings and kitchen. I don't know why, but that part of old plantations/estates fascinates me much more than seeing where the rich dude slept. I feel like we got our money's worth, though:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/535/19238624559_ae4283fbd9_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/535/19238624559_ae4283fbd9_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">{plantation office}</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/475/19248509220_290e261536_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/475/19248509220_290e261536_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/371/19423566235_5f2998c656_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/371/19423566235_5f2998c656_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/307/18804187893_7b52d6d090_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/307/18804187893_7b52d6d090_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Next we went to the <a href="http://www.michietavern.com/general-store/">crap store</a> by <a href="http://www.michietavern.com/">Michie Tavern</a>. They had crap. I don't recommend it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then we went back downtown for dinner at <a href="http://www.mastapas.com/home">Mas Tapas</a>. OH MY GOD this place is amazing! We got 5 small plates to share and it was just the right amount of food to satisfy us both. Here's what we got:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/549/19281136963_44e1c99569_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/549/19281136963_44e1c99569_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">{clockwise, from top left:Amish chicken and red Yukon gold potato salad, shrimp with garlic&nbsp;aioli, carne&nbsp;asada, apricot marmalade and brie on brioche (OMG), and bacon-wrapped dates}</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Even though we were happily full, but not stuffed, our last stop before heading back to Richmond was <a href="http://www.sweethaus.com/">Sweethaus</a>. This is a required stop even if we aren't eating the cupcakes until the next day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/267/19235862158_72c4275984_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/267/19235862158_72c4275984_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Long day but good day! :)</div><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D342707537009470197%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc1.staticflickr.com%2F1%2F475%2F19248509220_290e261536_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.37.01&amp;xuid=MRyd88pEK5iC&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 113px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 5461px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D342707537009470197%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc1.staticflickr.com%2F1%2F475%2F19248509220_290e261536_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.37.01&amp;xuid=MRyd88pEK5iC&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 113px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 5461px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D342707537009470197%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc1.staticflickr.com%2F1%2F475%2F19248509220_290e261536_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.37.01&amp;xuid=MRyd88pEK5iC&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 113px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 5461px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D342707537009470197%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc1.staticflickr.com%2F1%2F475%2F19248509220_290e261536_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.37.01&amp;xuid=MRyd88pEK5iC&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 113px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 5461px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D342707537009470197%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc1.staticflickr.com%2F1%2F475%2F19248509220_290e261536_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.37.01&amp;xuid=MRyd88pEK5iC&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 113px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 5461px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D342707537009470197%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc1.staticflickr.com%2F1%2F475%2F19248509220_290e261536_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.37.01&amp;xuid=MRyd88pEK5iC&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 113px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 5461px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D342707537009470197%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc1.staticflickr.com%2F1%2F475%2F19248509220_290e261536_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.37.01&amp;xuid=MRyd88pEK5iC&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 113px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 5461px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D342707537009470197%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc1.staticflickr.com%2F1%2F475%2F19248509220_290e261536_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.37.01&amp;xuid=MRyd88pEK5iC&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 113px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 5461px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-34222854731521112152015-06-25T20:16:00.000-04:002015-06-25T20:16:00.603-04:00Why didn't I think of that?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That was my first reaction when I walked into Sharon's house one day and saw this on the wall:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5495/18656226220_355b3bff00_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5495/18656226220_355b3bff00_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I immediately recognized it as a <a href="https://www.penzeys.com/shop/fun-stuff/">Penzey's tea towel</a>, and asked her where she found it on a canvas. She made it! DUH.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Light bulb.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've had this <a href="http://nickelcreek.com/">Nickel Creek</a> t-shirt for years but never really wore it. I know it's weird, but I didn't want to ruin it. That's a terrible and illogical reason for buying a shirt at a concert with no intention of ever wearing it. I know. But isn't it cute?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/370/18385949019_ce06d7d99b_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/370/18385949019_ce06d7d99b_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I picked up an 11x14 canvas, dusted off the old staple gun, and got to work!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/387/18545722836_3b5596bc8a_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/387/18545722836_3b5596bc8a_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I have some beautiful artwork and can stare at this t-shirt every time I walk in the room!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8870/18545797096_5f6e857bee_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8870/18545797096_5f6e857bee_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/358/18579782236_191682fcc5_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/358/18579782236_191682fcc5_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dheader&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc2.staticflickr.com%2F6%2F5495%2F18656226220_355b3bff00_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.35&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 36px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dheader&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc2.staticflickr.com%2F6%2F5495%2F18656226220_355b3bff00_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.35&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 36px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dheader&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc2.staticflickr.com%2F6%2F5495%2F18656226220_355b3bff00_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.35&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 36px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dheader&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc2.staticflickr.com%2F6%2F5495%2F18656226220_355b3bff00_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.35&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 36px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-53322803347457026022015-06-23T19:19:00.000-04:002015-06-23T19:19:00.527-04:00Oh my damn, this is my jamI went a little overboard with the omgstrawberries at the farmers' markets, and ended up with way too many. Not wanting to waste them but not particularly interested in going shopping for pectin, I perused the internet for a pectin-free strawberry jam recipe.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/334/18534306996_198efa2fdc_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/334/18534306996_198efa2fdc_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Spot the leaf I missed?</div><br />I was in luck. In the age of Pinterest and fad diets that eliminate random ingredients for vague reasons, you can find substitutes for pretty much anything. All the recipes were very similar, but I went with <a href="http://butterwithasideofbread.com/2012/08/strawberry-jam-without-pectin.html">this one</a> because it was short and sweet.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's as easy as this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>Cut up your strawberries (aim for 4 cups)</li><li>Blend them as much or little as you like - I like sorta chunky jam and over-blended mine</li><li>In a pot, combine them with 3 cups sugar (yes, I know that's a lot of sugar) and 1/2 cup of lime juice (recipe called for lemon but I didn't have any)</li><li>I added some chiffonaded basil for flavor and then fished them out at the end</li><li>Warm to a boil and boil for 10ish minutes</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/532/18373123660_7bf66ef089_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/532/18373123660_7bf66ef089_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, we still have Christmas m&amp;m's</div><div><br /></div><div>It will thicken as it cools - this didn't get as firm as store bought stuff but it firmed up enough to spread on bread, which is really all we need from jam, right?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/446/18560727765_3f43b9e1a0_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/446/18560727765_3f43b9e1a0_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-44222702022962796292015-06-18T16:47:00.000-04:002015-06-18T16:47:00.100-04:00Small bathroom cabinet - organized!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Messy bathroom cabinet coming at you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7657/17084947737_b88127b19f_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7657/17084947737_b88127b19f_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the under sink cabinet in our guest bathroom upstairs. Nobody ever uses it unless we have a lot of people over, so why is there so much crap in there? And why is it in such disarray? I don't know.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One day I went in there to add *another* bottle of soap to my stash (we all know I'm a hoarder), and I couldn't stand it anymore. I had purchased this <a href="http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/two-tier-sliding-basket-organizer/1017365142?Keyword=under+sink+drawer">2 tier sliding basket organizer</a>&nbsp;with this project in mind, and had been waiting for inspiration to strike to actually get it done. That's how I operate most of the time.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7682/17104841180_a7e38d55ff_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7682/17104841180_a7e38d55ff_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hadn't measured the cabinet to see if the thing would even fit, so imagine my surprise when I loaded it up and put it in the cabinet to find there were mere millimeters to spare between the top of that lotion bottle and the cabinet frame! WIN.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I purged a bunch of expired stuff that was in Bonnie's basket. We used to sleep at each other's houses all the time if we had an early event the next day or something, so we each had our own dedicated basket in the other's bathroom cabinet with some basic comfort items we may forget when we are visiting. However, once we reached or 30's, we have started just getting up earlier to get where we need to go (ugh I hate it) instead of sleeping over. This meant many expired items were in her basket!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Exhibit A: contacts that expired in 2011!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8826/17106193649_ff34db4a44_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8826/17106193649_ff34db4a44_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once all the trash was out, I organized the 2 drawers. In the top I put some of Bonnie's items that were still current, and added some lotion, a toothbrush and toothpaste, floss, and some contact solution:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7687/17266449056_84c2f089cc_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7687/17266449056_84c2f089cc_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I decided to use the bottom drawer for random bathroom stuff like toilet scrubbers (these Scrubbing Bubbles <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scrubbing-Bubbles-Flushable-12-Count-Refills/dp/B000FE0PIS">disposable brushes</a> are my favorite!), shower curtain liners, and backup hand soap:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7662/17104619528_936be52968_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7662/17104619528_936be52968_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the other side of the cabinet we just have some cleaners and paper towels. Am I the only lazy one who keeps cleaning products in each bathroom so I don't have to lug them around? I'm much more likely to clean the bathroom (still not very likely) if I have everything I need there ready to go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7696/16672161963_223e1dcd8d_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7696/16672161963_223e1dcd8d_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Much better!</div><br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-14455770211022252332015-06-04T17:36:00.000-04:002015-06-04T17:36:00.764-04:00Clean your headlights with toothpaste. Maybe.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All over Pinterest there are photos of drastic before and after shots of car headlights that have been cleaned with toothpaste. I can't remember which ones I actually read because they probably all say the same thing, so if you search for toothpaste headlights on Pinterest you will find approximately 1 million results:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jMLmGylksik/VWzNmbirisI/AAAAAAAAC_o/URG6xKI9VwQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-06-01%2Bat%2B5.24.14%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jMLmGylksik/VWzNmbirisI/AAAAAAAAC_o/URG6xKI9VwQ/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-06-01%2Bat%2B5.24.14%2BPM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My headlights are very cloudy so I thought I'd give it a try. All you need is water, toothpaste (basic paste without beads or gel), and a towel:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7727/17164609366_f7be16f7fa_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7727/17164609366_f7be16f7fa_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">10 points awarded to anyone who noticed that I tried to use a microfiber cloth at first because that's what I found at the dollar store. I later switched to a plain old hand towel and had better, but still unsuccessful, results.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I squirted the toothpaste onto the headlight and then spread it out with the towel to make sure the whole surface was covered:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8698/16568185854_f10705584e_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8698/16568185854_f10705584e_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let it sit for a few minutes, spray water on it, and wipe it clean with a different towel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wipe it clean? Not so much. I can maybe sorta see a little bit of improvement here, but my headlights don't look anything like the perfectly clean shiny ones on Pinterest! #storyofmylife</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the before and after:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/436/18355188632_ebacf72ce7_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/436/18355188632_ebacf72ce7_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Maybe white toothpaste would work better? Maybe toothpaste with a specific ingredient like baking soda? Even though I bought the toothpaste at the dollar store, I intentionally didn't buy the knockoff brand because I assumed Crest would work better.<br /><br />Good news: I'm only out $3 and my headlights are marginally cleaner. Win?Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-59342230993739887152015-06-02T16:51:00.000-04:002015-06-02T16:51:00.128-04:00Date Night!<a href="http://www.deepgroovevinyl.com/">Deep Groove</a>&nbsp;records advertised a sidewalk sale on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groovedeep?fref=ts">Facebook</a> page a few weeks ago, so I asked Dave if he wanted to check it out. He has been collecting Beatles albums and (I think) has all that he wants, but I supposed there's always the chance there's a nicer copy out there? He's also starting to collect <a href="http://davematthewsband.com/">DMB</a> albums, which are gradually being released on vinyl.<br /><br />We have been to Deep Groove once before on a random Saturday - Dave was looking for a specific DMB new release, which he found. I love this shop! Protected under a layer of glass, the counter is covered with concert tickets through the years:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7337/16484202241_8450a30472_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7337/16484202241_8450a30472_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />For the sidewalk sale, they had several tables full of boxes containing albums in a seemingly random order. Thrill of the hunt, I suppose? There was a pretty good crowd there and Dave perused all the boxes to find some goodies.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8791/17265049295_272a24d517_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8791/17265049295_272a24d517_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I bought an album! We do not own a record player, but when I saw the cover art of the new <a href="http://www.decemberists.com/">Decemberists</a> album, I had to have it. Now we need to buy a record player and I can't wait to listen to this!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7621/17239084296_615e7277e6_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7621/17239084296_615e7277e6_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />We headed across the street to <a href="http://bokatruck.com/boka-tako-bar/">Boka Tako Bar</a>, which evolved from a food truck business, for dinner. We shared some honey truffle tator tots (YUM), shrimp and grits tacos (YUM), and 3 pig and fig empanadas (YUM). There were some college kids there having a little too much fun at the bar. Scream-talking to each other, and when the bartender turned up the music to drown them out, they just scream-talked even louder. UGH I am old.<br /><br />Last stop of the night was <a href="http://www.richmondgov.com/parks/parkbyrd.aspx">Byrd Park</a>. We drive by it every time we leave downtown, but I've never stopped to check it out. People talk about paddle boats and feeding ducks there, and both sound fun! We were there after hours so there were no boats, and the ducks were sorta pissed off, so we took some selfies (we both have crazy eyes in them so I'm not posting) and were on our way ;)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7684/17077289898_8740e8b363_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7684/17077289898_8740e8b363_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D7913397475325365101%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D1%3Bsrc%3Dlink&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc2.staticflickr.com%2F8%2F7684%2F17077289898_8740e8b363_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.35&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2424px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D7913397475325365101%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D1%3Bsrc%3Dlink&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc2.staticflickr.com%2F8%2F7684%2F17077289898_8740e8b363_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.35&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2424px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-79133974753253651012015-05-28T16:20:00.002-04:002015-05-28T16:20:49.835-04:00Exploring RVA: SouthboundFinally, Southside has a hipster eatery - <a href="http://www.southboundrva.com/menu/">Southbound</a> RVA!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.rvanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/1537411_816837228358725_4267049533659210209_o-550x297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.rvanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/1537411_816837228358725_4267049533659210209_o-550x297.jpg" height="344" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://rvanews.com/etc/food-news-southbound-opens-inner-city-blues-to-close-and-last-minute-thanksgiving-options/119501">via</a>&nbsp;</span></div><br />All the good places (except <a href="http://sdcxpress.com/brickhousediner/">Brick House Diner</a>, YUM) are downtown, and while we can get there within 20 minutes on a good night, it's nice to have dinner in your own neighborhood occasionally. Right?<br /><br />We didn't plan this out very well and just thought this brand new place from the chefs behind <a href="http://rooseveltrva.com/">The Roosevelt</a> and <a href="http://www.heritagerva.com/">Heritage</a> (2 Richmond institutions) would have room on a Saturday night. Nope. We were offered a table at 8pm or a cozy table in the bar, so we chose the latter.<br /><br />They have since changed their menu, but we got the Thai chicken wings which had just enough spice for my palette. One was underdone, and they were very nice about it. I got the lamb bolognese with their house made pasta and it was fantastic!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7569/16120806165_348448b1b8_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7569/16120806165_348448b1b8_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We will definitely be back once the hype dies down and we can get a spontaneous table. Next time I'm trying a <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CCEQyCkwAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DbflYjF90t7c&amp;ei=eXdnVd2SB4vWsAWavILwDA&amp;usg=AFQjCNHRmMieb3MCU82N3E8Rz9YTjcswdA&amp;sig2=rvMbAqb2md1kfkRpBplFjw&amp;bvm=bv.93990622,d.b2w">Bayside Tiger</a> (if they still have it)!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7522/16118894851_f3bb2139c2_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7522/16118894851_f3bb2139c2_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-75675987533776495302015-05-14T16:03:00.000-04:002015-05-14T16:03:00.256-04:00Pecan PieA couple years ago, Nate's mom gave Bonnie and I each a huge bag of pecans that she picked from a friend's tree. What to do with all those pecans?<br /><br />One of Bonnie's co-workers was willing to share a family pecan pie recipe with us, so I tried it out. You know how you think something must be really time consuming and then when you find out how easy it is, you feel really dumb for not trying it before? Yep, that happened here.<br /><br />Here's what you'll need - I'm sure this is not how anyone's grandmother would make this, but I ain't got time for any nonsense:<br /><ul><li>Frozen pie crust (sure, you can make your own, but I figure Marie Callender has a pretty good routine down, and why mess with perfection?)</li><ul><li>I recommend the deep dish pie crust because this expands while cooking and it may make a mess of your oven</li></ul><li>1 cup chopped pecans</li><li>1/2 cup butter</li><li>1 cup brown sugar</li><li>3 eggs, slightly beaten</li><li>3/4 cup corn syrup (I've used light and dark and it only affects the final color of the filling)</li><li>1/4 tsp. salt</li><li>1 tsp. vanilla</li></ul><div>And the very detailed assembly steps:</div><div><ul><li>Thaw the pie crust for 15-ish minutes and put on a baking sheet</li><li>Chop the pecans</li><li>Mix all that other stuff together in a bowl and throw in the pecans</li><li>Stir to combine</li><ul><li>I thought it was weird to mix in the pecans with the rest because then they wouldn't all be at the top. They rise to the top while baking, so don't worry about that. #science</li></ul><li>Pour all that into the crust</li><li>Bake at 350* for 45 minutes</li><li>When it comes out, it's ok if it jiggles a little bit in the middle - it will firm up as it cools</li><ul><li>Too much jiggle is not ok - that will mean your pie will still taste fantastic but the filling will be soupy</li></ul><li>Let it cool - it will deflate and become very dense and stiff</li><li>Refrigerate overnight</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3952/15473455377_76f1e810fe_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3952/15473455377_76f1e810fe_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><br />We've made this many times since I got the recipe and it is soooo good! I have messed it up a couple of times by being impatient (too much jiggle), not measuring pecans (overflowing pie), and using a regular pie crust (overflowing pie).<br /><br />It takes like 5 minutes to put together, so give it a try!<br /><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dheader&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc4.staticflickr.com%2F4%2F3952%2F15473455377_76f1e810fe_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.35&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 694px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D4090117877056090522%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dheader&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fc4.staticflickr.com%2F4%2F3952%2F15473455377_76f1e810fe_k.jpg&amp;xm=h&amp;xv=sa1.35&amp;description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 694px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-63021107000842591252015-05-12T17:49:00.000-04:002015-05-12T17:49:00.056-04:00Eleanora turns 2!Our littlest friend turned 2 last weekend, so we celebrated her with a Curious George party! She is *obsessed* with him!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8844/17241230050_2c96e02cf3_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8844/17241230050_2c96e02cf3_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Her mom is very creative and executed this even though Curious George stuff is very hard to find in stores. She found some great licensed stuff and supplemented with lots of bright colors and monkey-themed things. &nbsp;Let's start with the food:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8845/16808521783_6dfd2e15c1_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8845/16808521783_6dfd2e15c1_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Dave and I provided monkey bread and banana bread, as well as little No Yo Mama's banana pudding, served in itty bitty Mason jars. Ashley also put out banana chips for the little monkeys and provided the non-sugar food - BBQ chicken, baked beans, roll-ups, etc. There was no shortage of food!<br /><br />The little ones played with bubbles and colored in Curious George coloring books, while the adults sat around and wished we had their energy. The man in the yellow hat (AKA Grandpa Tom) even showed up! Eleanora could not be fooled - when we asked her who it was, thinking she'd say 'mannnnninahaaat' (that's my best impression), she didn't miss a beat and called him Grandpa. Also looked at us like 'shouldn't you know him?' Haha.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7677/17242557319_8c9edcc926_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7677/17242557319_8c9edcc926_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />We all crowded around to watch her eat her smash cake like a champ!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7713/17402988286_e017b4be4c_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7713/17402988286_e017b4be4c_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Happy 2nd birthday, sweet girl!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7717/17323375976_5a0c79f304_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7717/17323375976_5a0c79f304_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-15970226044348057212015-05-08T16:40:00.000-04:002015-05-08T16:58:38.788-04:00Central Virginia Food Truck Rodeo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">RVA has an obsession with food trucks! There are food truck nights at churches, there are always several at all special events around town, and Capital One even invited some to the campus during the summer months to add a local dining option to our choices for lunch!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last fall, Dave and I went to the first <a href="http://www.centralvirginiafoodtruckrodeo.com/">Central Virginia Food Truck Rodeo</a> with my brother and SIL - they took over part of the parking lot at Chesterfield Town Center with ~30 trucks and live bands, and it was a great time! Very hot, very sunny, a lot of lines, but it was a good fall activity to get outside and enjoy some fresh air and try some new dishes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This spring, they decided to have another one so I took my Bonnie so she could see what the fuss was about :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/11011_757282444389815_6183109564409244206_n.jpg?oh=1c292af11fa1497514507f92d37e4682&amp;oe=560BE79E" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/11011_757282444389815_6183109564409244206_n.jpg?oh=1c292af11fa1497514507f92d37e4682&amp;oe=560BE79E" width="416" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/cvfoodtruckrodeo?fref=ts"><span style="font-size: x-small;">via</span></a></div><br />Well, she tried some new dishes. I got exactly the same things I got last time. ;) I'm sneaky like that.<br /><br />*all photos are Bonnie's because I was too busy eating to take pictures. #fatkid<br /><br />First stop was <a href="http://www.goatocado.com/">Goatocado</a> for a mountain tropp. Yum - quinoa, avocado, corn, black beans, arugula, apple, and a mango lime sauce. Oh my this thing is so good - and good for you! I'm sure the sauce has some naughty stuff in it, but this is way healthy!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7710/17403789546_76699b27f5_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7710/17403789546_76699b27f5_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Then we went to <a href="http://www.happyempanada.com/">Happy Empanada</a> for some deep fried goodness. Not healthy. We shared some fried plantains, Bonnie got a beef empanada, and I got a spinach/feta/mushroom empanada. We had to wait about 25 minutes for our order, which was annoying since we were first in line, but it was worth the wait. I suppose? Very tasty.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8790/17242237530_dfc84932fc_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8790/17242237530_dfc84932fc_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Last stop was <a href="http://www.gelatiicecream.com/">Gelati Celesti</a> for some dessert. This place is right next door to our grocery store, so you would think we go there all the time, but I had never tried it until my brother and SIL introduced us to it at the last rodeo. Bonnie got a cone of chocolate decadence, which I think is their most popular flavor. I got a cup of just ask - they line the tub of white chocolate ice cream with peanut butter and mix in some oreos. I mean, why would you get anything else?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8852/17403789796_4c835bf04e_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8852/17403789796_4c835bf04e_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I think there was one more place Bonnie wanted to try, but after these 3 stops we were both stuffed. I didn't even finish my ice cream, which is *so* unlike me. :) We were in and out in under an hour and before the crowds really showed up, and then headed across the river to spend some time with Ashley and Ellie-belly!Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-38665609660635081182015-04-23T19:52:00.001-04:002015-04-23T19:52:15.166-04:00Exploring RVA: Proper PieNow that it's not 15 degrees out, some of these Exploring RVA posts should probably include non-food places ;) Where should we go?<br /><br />Last fall, we finally went to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ProperPieCo">Proper Pie</a>! I feel like we were the last people in RVA to try it out, and I'm not sure why we waited so long. Church Hill is a part of town we don't visit much, so we need to change that because the views of the city from the top of the hill are amazing!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7680/17223633866_d26efda504_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7680/17223633866_d26efda504_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I love the design of the space - concrete floors, exposed duct work that is so popular around here, and industrial style decorating that I think is timeless. I think I remember some of the floor was left unpainted so you could see some logos from previous tenants of the building - but I could be wrong.<br /><br />They post the available flavors every day on Facebook, so check out their page before you head out to make sure they have something you'll like. There are some flavors that are always there, but they also love to try new things.<br /><br />The savory pies come in these adorable bags - no plate necessary because they recommend you eat them with your hands like an empanada. I didn't do that because Idon'tknowwhy so I asked for a fork. They obliged.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5614/15441774617_b960715d93_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5614/15441774617_b960715d93_k.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />I chose the savory mince and cheese. It tasted like homemade pot roast, but the sauce was really thick so it wasn't soupy. Sooooooo tasty! The meat was not in bug chunks so the texture was consistent throughout, and the crust was buttery and flaky and so, so delicious.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3956/15007606393_48a50b13f9_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3956/15007606393_48a50b13f9_h.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nehi orange was a bonus!</span></div><br />For dessert I chose a Dutch apple pie. I think I had this once before when Bonnie and Ashley went there for lunch and brought me a treat when I met up with them later in the day. The crumb topping was crunchy and the apples were still in tact - I hate when you bite into apple pie and the apples have turned to mush. Ew. This was perfect!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5602/15007607193_e443d52e9a_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5602/15007607193_e443d52e9a_h.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />After we finished our lunch we took a drive around Church Hill - so pretty in the fall!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5614/15604080516_3a91c01878_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5614/15604080516_3a91c01878_h.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />My only complaint about this place, and this is really stretching it, is that there wasn't much seating. We went on a Sunday at lunchtime, so it was understandably busy, but there are only a few tables in the space. There is a also bar with stools where you can see the kitchen, and another bar along the front window which is where we sat. I was right next to the door and felt like I was in the way every time someone came in. There isn't much space for them to add more seating, so this isn't feedback they can act on, and I feel like they've made good use of the space they have at the front of the house.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-75037652631016070482015-04-21T17:40:00.000-04:002015-04-21T19:46:39.943-04:00Pantry Organization<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It only took 10 years of living in this house with an actual pantry to figure out how to organize it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Take a look at this before shot - so gross:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/15473281988_d8d27b4bba_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/15473281988_d8d27b4bba_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can sorta tell I was trying to keep the stuff organized. Similar items are corralled near each other, but there was no real organization. I had some bins for flour/sugar/snacks, but the bins were all different sizes so they didn't stack very well, and some had lids/some did not. If there was a sale on canned vegetables and I stocked up, they were put on different shelves wherever there was space. I never knew what I had, which made putting together meals difficult.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was just not working for me. So let's fix it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First, I took everything out and threw away anything that was expired/about to expire as well as items we would never use (I'm looking at you, big crinkly bag with exactly 4 croutons inside and 'Christmas in a jar' that I'll never simmer on the stove).&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then I put everything into these categories to figure out how much real estate I'd need to dedicate to each:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>baking sundries - extracts, baking spices, baking soda/powder, cocoa</li><li>baking dry goods - open flour/sugar/powdered sugar</li><li>backup baking dry goods - sealed packages of flour/sugar that I'm not currently using</li><li>grains and starchy sides</li><li>peanut butter/honey - this probably won't need its own category in anyone else's house, but I'm a fan of peanut butter ;)</li><li>bulk bins of salt &amp; pepper</li><li>breakfast - cereal, oats, pancake mix</li><li>chips and snacks</li><li>canned goods</li><li>pasta</li></ul><div>I asked for a 3-tiered <a href="http://www.target.com/p/white-3-tier-expandable-shelf/-/A-13706047">can stacker</a>/organizer for Christmas last year (and got it!) so canned goods had a plan. &nbsp;Also, I knew I wanted to move all my dry pasta and open containers of baking dry goods to some glass jars I had been purchasing over the last few months from IKEA. I picked up a few every time I went in different sizes with the beginnings of this pantry makeover idea in my mind. Don't they look so cute?&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1lxKd_sLemM/VTaWJap5xBI/AAAAAAAAC-8/Rb3q-Ibn59Q/s1600/17018511227_38cc06df13_o%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1lxKd_sLemM/VTaWJap5xBI/AAAAAAAAC-8/Rb3q-Ibn59Q/s1600/17018511227_38cc06df13_o%2Bcopy.jpg" height="418" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">{Note} If I were super DIY OCD I'd put chalkboard labels on the jars like everyone else in the blog&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">world, but if&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">you can clearly see that it's quinoa vs. orzo, why do you need a label? If they were frosted glass, go for it!</span></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once my cans and jars were ready, I went out in search of some bins for everything else - 4 small and 2 large. If I were doing this project now I'd get them at Dollar Tree ( I am <i>obsessed</i>)&nbsp;but at the time I went to Big Lots and found 4 identical bins that looked like the perfect size for my smaller categories. They didn't have any larger bins in stock, but I knew that the 2 larger bins would be together on the top shelf, so they could be different in style without making me twitch.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used those 4 bins for baking extracts, grains/starches, backup dry goods, and pb/honey/salt/pepper:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8737/17225841565_3691366943_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8737/17225841565_3691366943_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found the top 2 bins at Target for <i>way</i>&nbsp;more than I would have paid at Big Lots for matching ones, but whatever. They look complementary at least. As you can see at the top left, we clearly have a chip problem. Top right is breakfast stuff. There is 1 random bin beside the can organizer that has snacks like granola, dried fruit, and almonds. Since snacks like that tend to rotate pretty quickly in this house based on our current cravings, I just used a plastic shoebox sized bin because it fits well in that corner.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7590/16605042313_4ef7760385_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7590/16605042313_4ef7760385_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So there you have it. Our working pantry system. Now when Dave needs something he can find it, and when I'm meal planning I can easily see what we have and need!</div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-40038680824846265972015-04-14T17:09:00.000-04:002015-04-14T17:09:00.576-04:00Easter WeekendThe long Easter weekend started off with a sinus infection! Yuck! I went to the doctor as soon as I felt that familiar headache to make sure I got some good drugs and would be able to enjoy the holiday weekend! When the doctor asked me if I had a drug preference (yes, yes I do) I knew I would be good to go by Saturday.<br /><br />After we finished at the farmers' market and checked out the <a href="http://updownleftrightbastart.blogspot.com/2015/04/book-exchange.html">book exchange</a>, we headed over to my brother's house so I could deliver Reed's Easter basket. Luckily they were free at the last minute, because even though I've had R's basket ready for several weeks I never made any plans with either them or my parents, who have hosted us for Easter the past few years! OOPS!<br /><br />In addition to his Easter basket we brought over 15 eggs filled with candy to have an impromptu Easter egg hunt in their backyard. I figured he'd already done at least one other hunt, whether at school or at a local event, but can you have too many egg hunts? Nope.<br /><br />We snuck in the backyard (well, their dog ratted us out) to hide the eggs, and after Reed had gone through the basket we brought him, we went outside so he could find the eggs. He was so excited to have this hunt all to himself because he had been to a hunt that morning where all the older kids hogged the eggs and the younger kids got the shaft. This hunt had no competition!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8724/17034164101_c6f46fe562_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8724/17034164101_c6f46fe562_k.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />He very thoroughly walked through the backyard (with a little help from Uncle Dave) and shouted "I FOUND ONE I FOUND ONE!" every time he spotted an egg. He also might have said "I'm so good at this!" Haha!<br /><br />He found them all and then we went inside to check out his loot. Dave had convinced me to <a href="https://instagram.com/p/1D2WAYFeKv/?taken-by=rvacraft">mismatch the egg colors</a> because it was more fun - but Reed and I agreed that they should match, so he opened every single one and "fixed" them.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8741/16847255488_c59505b719_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8741/16847255488_c59505b719_k.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We played a few games of hide and seek and played outside for a bit, and then we headed home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sunday we did it all over again with our friends! We staged an egg hunt in the backyard - this time the eggs contained no candy because these kids had all been to several hunts already and were candied out, but it was just as fun! While Dave, Bonnie, and Eddie were hiding the eggs I ran inside to get the kids excited, saying the Easter Bunny made a last-minute surprise bonus visit! It worked and they all came running - no shoes, no coats, no baskets! Haha!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These girls and some new friends hunted those eggs and played their hearts out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7657/17090776712_ef90af130d_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7657/17090776712_ef90af130d_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">taken by eddie, bonnie, dave, and ashley</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After dinner we all crowded around the TV to watch the Little Mermaid. Not just the kids - all of us. Who doesn't love the Little Mermaid?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5t41GJ9Qx80/VSbqX-C9Q5I/AAAAAAAAC-U/dOqW7Muw0kY/s1600/10169465_10152882970751359_8367041514673039582_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5t41GJ9Qx80/VSbqX-C9Q5I/AAAAAAAAC-U/dOqW7Muw0kY/s1600/10169465_10152882970751359_8367041514673039582_n.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152882970751359&amp;set=a.10150857618426359.408888.534031358&amp;type=1&amp;theater">via</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Great weekend! :) Hope you all had a very Happy Eeaster!</div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-59684355034971213082015-04-09T17:51:00.000-04:002015-04-09T20:09:36.022-04:00Chicken Nachos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Whooo boy, these were good!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have been watching YouTube videos instead of reading blogs lately. I'll make a separate post on some of my favorites, but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKp-PGh0Y10">OrganizedJen</a> is right at the top of the list. She's neurotic in a good way (or at least in a way I can relate to), super organized (hence the name), and her husband is very talented in the kitchen/on the grill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They recently posted a video showing how to make his chicken nachos and I almost didn't make it to the end of the video before I raided the pantry to see if we had everything I needed to make them. I was in luck! Here's their recipe:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.organizedjen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/OJ_TBBB_03-07-2015_02a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.organizedjen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/OJ_TBBB_03-07-2015_02a.png" height="532" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I made modifications based on the fact that I wanted to eat these that night for dinner and didn't have time for a lot of those steps. Also we don't have a smoker and I don't like dark meat. They still came out delicious.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's how I recommend you make these - this timeline assumes dinner is served at 6pm:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>2pm: coat 1-2 lb.s of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in 3 tbsp. of olive oil and 3 tbsp. of taco seasoning (here's how I make my <a href="http://updownleftrightbastart.blogspot.com/2012/02/diy-taco-seasoning.html">taco seasoning</a>)</li><li>2pm: put chicken in the oven for 2 hours at 250*</li><li>4pm: take the chicken out of the oven, cover it with foil, and let it rest</li><li>4pm: put 1 can of (drained) kidney beans and 1 can of (drained) black beans in the crock pot with a cup of stock or water; throw in another tbsp. of taco seasoning if you like spice like we do!</li><li>430pm: shred the chicken and throw it in the crock pot with the beans</li><li>530pm: preheat oven to 425* and start assembling your nachos (see gif below)</li><li>545pm: put nachos in the oven long enough to melt the cheese</li><li>6pm: EAT</li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An assembly gif for fun:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUGi4rKuXOA/VSb75oVJllI/AAAAAAAAC-k/9wu_etwWTPs/s1600/jyv3b%2Bcopy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUGi4rKuXOA/VSb75oVJllI/AAAAAAAAC-k/9wu_etwWTPs/s1600/jyv3b%2Bcopy.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />We topped our nachos with some sour cream, pico, and guac - make your own if you desire. I did not desire:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7286/16570999690_48e17efb85_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7286/16570999690_48e17efb85_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />DELICIOUS!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8701/16572264049_b6608d14ea_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8701/16572264049_b6608d14ea_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-81003151373684670932015-04-07T18:50:00.001-04:002015-04-07T18:50:57.181-04:00Book ExchangeA few weeks ago we were driving home from a friend's house and Dave spotted something just beyond the sidewalk near Libbie &amp; Grove. He pulled over and we found that it was a Book Exchange box! It was too dark to really investigate it and find out which books were inside to trade, so we made a mental note to come back in the daytime.<br /><br />So this past Saturday we went on an adventure.<br /><br />First stop was the <a href="http://www.saintstephensrichmond.net/farmersmarket">Farmers' Market at St. Stephens</a> - it's my <a href="http://updownleftrightbastart.blogspot.com/2015/04/zucchini-tacos.html">favorite</a>, and just happens to be a block away from the Book Exchange. It was the first outdoor market of the season and I wasn't going to miss it! There weren't too many booths there so early in the season, but we still got some good stuff - 2 Fuji apples, some local honey from Maury Flores (can't find a website or any other record of them online?):<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8702/17034149111_03591be17f_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8702/17034149111_03591be17f_h.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The booth where I normally get zucchini/squash had a ton of herbs!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7704/17034996545_936a874482_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7704/17034996545_936a874482_k.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />We picked up some oregano and purple basil:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8775/16414849463_ede7860c56_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8775/16414849463_ede7860c56_k.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />We loaded our loot into the car and then walked down to the Book Exchange - it was such a beautiful day out and Libbie &amp; Grove area was bustling! Tons of people on walks and running errands - what a friendly neighborhood, too! We brought two books to add to the box -&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1845.Into_the_Wild">Into the Wild</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13539044-the-silver-linings-playbook?from_search=true">Silver Linings Playbook</a>. Both good books but neither of us will read them again so we thought we'd pass them along.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7641/17035011915_fd3f0703e0_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7641/17035011915_fd3f0703e0_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />We didn't find any books we needed (<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10210.Jane_Eyre?from_search=true">Jane Eyre</a> was tempting but I have so many books in my TBR pile it'd be a while before I'd get to it) so we left empty-handed. Better to give than receive, right? :)Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-27070452045466190542015-04-02T16:07:00.000-04:002015-04-02T16:07:00.305-04:00Zucchini TacosI know, I know. WHAT?<br /><br />Trust me.<br /><br />Farmers' Market season is my favorite season. Well, it really spans 3 of the 4 seasons, so it's more like my favorite weekend activity. <a href="http://www.saintstephensrichmond.net/farmersmarket">St. Stephen</a>'s hosts my favorite market and if I don't have anything going on between 8am-noon on Saturdays, that's where you can find me. I have my favorite booths, ones I don't even look at because I hate their faces, and others that have great stuff but it's just not for me. I have very clever names for them like 'Goochland potato guy' and 'the one with the huge booth and lots of cilantro' and 'that other big one that's more expensive but their tomatoes always look better so let's go over there before we leave'. Love.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qLIOKT_tP2Y/VPTE1OYwYSI/AAAAAAAAC78/B8xmNJF5Q3Y/s640/blogger-image-1626057631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qLIOKT_tP2Y/VPTE1OYwYSI/AAAAAAAAC78/B8xmNJF5Q3Y/s640/blogger-image-1626057631.jpg" /></a></div><br />BUT - towards the end of its run, I get sick of zucchini and don't even want to think about eating another squash. In spite of this we keep buying them because they're good for us and we like them and we'll miss them in December. So in an attempt to find another way to use them besides grilling them with olive oil/salt/pepper (boring) I asked Bonnie, my recipe database extraordinaire, for an idea.<br /><br />She delivered. She had made tacos using the zucchini instead of the taco shell. Good way to consume a vegetable that's covered in tasty goodness rather than on its own, saves some carbs, and supports local farmers. Win-win-win. So we tried it - and it was delicious!<br /><br />All you do is cut the zucchini longways and scrape out the seeds and enough other guts to create a nice sized well for your taco filling of choice (I use ground turkey or beef), and bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes until the zucchini is fork tender.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RQ2iZ561P7o/VPTE2DhUToI/AAAAAAAAC8E/RcB7GxHHjAQ/s640/blogger-image-2003944265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RQ2iZ561P7o/VPTE2DhUToI/AAAAAAAAC8E/RcB7GxHHjAQ/s640/blogger-image-2003944265.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Add your toppings (avocado and cilantro from the huge booth!) and enjoy! These are so good that I'm looking forward to making these a lot this summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S1w6Q8ztx18/VPTE0BIySZI/AAAAAAAAC70/Zh6ZsRXhclc/s640/blogger-image-906036972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S1w6Q8ztx18/VPTE0BIySZI/AAAAAAAAC70/Zh6ZsRXhclc/s640/blogger-image-906036972.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-33538854797238842692015-03-31T15:25:00.000-04:002015-03-31T15:25:00.944-04:00Candy-free Easter BasketsI love spoiling the kids in my life when it comes to holidays and birthdays. I know life isn't about presents, but it's so cute to see their little faces when they get a surprise! :)<br /><br />My nephew can slam some chocolate so he is the exception here and will be gifted some candy, but I have never seen these 3 little girls' parents feed them chocolate. Never. Maybe they do, but I've never seen it so I don't want to give their kid something they don't usually let them have.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dxpZt-7nF0E/VQh3Ht5gbmI/AAAAAAAAC98/mpTv7YhcQYU/s1600/10931100_10102258108614286_5909167237628109311_n%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dxpZt-7nF0E/VQh3Ht5gbmI/AAAAAAAAC98/mpTv7YhcQYU/s1600/10931100_10102258108614286_5909167237628109311_n%2Bcopy.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><br />So this is how I create an Easter basket that contains no chocolate. Note - this is a random assortment of characters because I pulled things from each basket. I guess a kid could be into both Batman and Ariel, though.<br /><ul><li>Socks - you can find these really cheap just about anywhere in cute designs. One of the girls in deep into Curious George but it's near impossible to find merchandise other than online. Hopefully this monkey-who-clearly-isn't-George will be a good stand-in. :)</li><li>Crazy straw - I got these for the older kids to make drinking out a real cup more fun</li><li>Flash cards</li><li>Stickers - I will claim amnesia when these end up on the inside of the car window. What stickers? I would never give a baby stickers!</li><li>Slinky - the jingle says it all: it's a wonderful toy</li><li>Ellie is obsessed with balls and we might throw them around the house when I watch her. I thought a really soft one might be better for our little game</li><li>Crayons - you can never have too many, plus Batman!</li><li>Clothes - Target and Babies R Us always have cheap ($30$5) separates on sale in the spring that are just too cute to pass up! To keep things cheap I got 1 piece for each kid, either a shirt or leggings in some pattern or print that matches their personality. I got ones for Agnes with little ballet shoes on them since she's enthusiastically been watching ballet recently</li><li>Bubbles - all the kids love them. Bonus points if Uncle Dave pretends the bubbles are poison and have to be popped before they touch his skin!</li><li>Character trinkets - these are cheap from Party City and might not last more than a month, but they'll provide some entertainment while they last.&nbsp;</li><li>Band-aids - they make these for just about every character (except Curious George!)</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7590/16639554237_052894015c_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7590/16639554237_052894015c_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Other ideas:<br /><br /><ul><li>Puzzle</li><li>Movie, book, or CD (Agnes will probably get the Annie soundtrack if I can freaking find it - why wouldn't they make the original soundtrack more available since Annie is a thing again? I refuse to buy her the new version. I'm an Annie purist.)</li><li>Temporary tattoos</li><li>Colorful hair bands</li></ul><div>I had to control myself - every time I brought home a bag from Target or Party City I got the side eye from Dave. He knows the baskets are overflowing at this point - that pair of heart pants in the picture is teetering on top only secured by the tissue paper surrounding the basket handle.</div><div><br /></div><br />I already mentioned that my Batman- and Bubble Guppies-loving nephew will get some chocolate since he loves it, but each little girl is just getting a snack-size bag of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.shopwell.com/natures-promise-natural-vegetable-sticks/chips-pretzels/p/8826703708">veggie sticks</a>&nbsp;because they all love them! Dave can pound some veggie sticks too - he eats like a toddler!<br /><br />I found the baskets at Party City for $1.79 and used some Dollar tree ribbon and washi tape to dress them up for Easter:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7652/16640967677_e35b69b5dd_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7652/16640967677_e35b69b5dd_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-8913120875843656532015-03-26T17:06:00.000-04:002015-03-26T17:06:00.039-04:00Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Breakfast Bake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I bought a bunch of quinoa and we haven't been using it as frequently as I thought we would. I love it as a side with our dinners instead of having rice all the time, but to switch it up a bit I decided to make something sweet with it. Not sure how healthy this is, but it's probably better than cake, right?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's what you need (I used <a href="http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Apple-Cinnamon-Quinoa-Breakfast-Bake-32210316">this recipe</a> from POPSUGAR and modified it a bit based on our tastes and what we had in the pantry):</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><ul><li>1 cup uncooked quinoa</li><li>1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon</li><li>1 tsp. nutmeg</li><li>1-2 apples, depending on their size (I used 1 huge Honeycrisp)</li><li>1/4 cup Craisins</li><li>2 eggs</li><li>2 cups almond milk (use whatever kind of milk you like, you just need the liquid)</li><li>1/4 cup agave (recipe called for maple syrup)</li><li>1/3 cup almonds, chopped</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was really easy to put this together:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">stir together quinoa, cinnamon and nutmeg</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">pour into greased 8x8 pan</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">add layer of diced apples</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">add layer of Craisins</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">in a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and agave/syrup and pour into the pan</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">stir a bit to make sure everything is saturated</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">sprinkle chopped almonds on top</span></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Om4-W-DyN4/VPOMpwKx9QI/AAAAAAAAC68/R6-W5yu5olU/s1600/quinoa%2Bgif.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Om4-W-DyN4/VPOMpwKx9QI/AAAAAAAAC68/R6-W5yu5olU/s1600/quinoa%2Bgif.gif" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><br />Bake at 350 degrees for an hour - when you take it out it should be mostly set but there may be a little bit of liquid that will disappear as it cools.<br /><br />Once it cools to room temperature, cover and put it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, cut a piece, throw it in the microwave and enjoy!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A92itifdbIs/VPTBU0zrbtI/AAAAAAAAC7o/-K4i7V-YDao/s640/blogger-image-61231434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A92itifdbIs/VPTBU0zrbtI/AAAAAAAAC7o/-K4i7V-YDao/s640/blogger-image-61231434.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I hope you enjoy it, because I didn't. Quinoa has no flavor - it's all about what you add to it - so if I make this again, I'd throw everything into a bowl and combine so the quinoa is coated with all those delicious flavors. Assembled according to the recipe, the egg/milk mixture didn't penetrate the quinoa layer - so it tastes like apple/craisins/egg/milk/almonds on top of baked quinoa rather than one cohesive "breakfast bar". Blech.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-67020874604510129672015-03-24T17:53:00.000-04:002015-03-24T17:53:00.165-04:00Fayth's Housewarming PartyMy friend's MIL invited some friends, family, and coworkers over for a fun craft day!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8613/16677458265_2e447dd4d8_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8613/16677458265_2e447dd4d8_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />She recently moved into a new house, so she gave us the grand tour - her craft room is awesome! Her husband built her this desk with tons of storage for her various crafting pursuits. Everything was perfectly organized, in true Fayth fashion.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8567/16470176817_10c4feab9b_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8567/16470176817_10c4feab9b_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />You can tell that she has put her heart into every detail and every inch of this house. This vignette displays some family photos and handkerchiefs belonging to her mom.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8666/16628289737_84d81dc08e_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8666/16628289737_84d81dc08e_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Ellie-belly came with us, and she was the main entertainment for the day. We spent time reading books and putting all her stuffed animals down for a nap. Ellie was insistent that she wasn't tired, but she wanted her friends to be rested, I guess? ;) She's very independent these days and was practicing putting on and taking off her shoes and socks.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7282/16628289757_531248d5c9_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7282/16628289757_531248d5c9_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Eventually she gave up and just put her shoes on her hands. Whatevs.<br /><br />For the crafting portion of the day, Fayth had stations set up where we could practice wood carving, cross stitch, card making, and/or make ornaments out of plastic beads. I waited for my turn while watching how the others fared - the woodworking looked easier than it actually was.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8659/16489862038_0c3bfb2ce7_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8659/16489862038_0c3bfb2ce7_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">#nailedit</div><br />Fayth had a ton of crafting beads in several colors, so we created ornaments in whatever pattern we wanted. Once we created a design with the beads (I made a simple rectangular shape using University of Richmond colors), she melted them in the oven for 20 minutes to create a stained glass effect. Then she used a Dremel to drill a hole for the string.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8721/16809730286_3523603f08_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8721/16809730286_3523603f08_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />She had little goodie bags for us all to take home - what a nice hostess!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8631/16677438465_fe41dcf12e_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8631/16677438465_fe41dcf12e_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />It was fun spending the afternoon with some people I already love and some new ladies, and I always love playing with my Ellie-belly! :)<!--3-->Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090117877056090522.post-49385300433252093852015-03-19T14:15:00.000-04:002015-03-22T18:18:48.331-04:00Charlotte turns 2!The kids in my life are growing up entirely too fast! I can't believe my nephew is already 4 and will be in school soon! Agnes is 3 going on 16, and little Charlotte is already 2! How did this happen?!<br /><br />We celebrated her birthday last weekend with lots of gifts and cake, as you do. The party was at her house so she was in her comfort zone. I love this art wall her parents have created - it's her own little art gallery in the family room!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7281/16540589377_aacd956ed1_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7281/16540589377_aacd956ed1_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She got a ton of gifts and had a great time tearing the tissue paper out of the bag and throwing it, to reveal whatever awesome thing was inside :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7606/16601535040_5693175831_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7606/16601535040_5693175831_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She got a little shy when we sang to her - can't blame her. I don't like all those people looking at me either! So she stayed close to mama's side and then blew out her candle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7613/16560454460_096f95c8d8_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7613/16560454460_096f95c8d8_k.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy birthday, pretty girl!<a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8654/16166638124_4af259a78a_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8654/16166638124_4af259a78a_k.jpg" width="640" /></a><!--3--></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07190268133032692769noreply@blogger.com0